Ink agitator for printing presses



Aug. 26, 1930. w. LINDSAY INK AGITATOR FOR- PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4 IN\IENTOR.:.

A omqej Aug. 26, 1930. w. LINDSAY INK AGITATOR FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 6, 1929 Sheets-Sheet 2 OH UE QWFP Q L $-1 n S an 1 1 h n a @Q INVENTOK V '720 carriage with guard;

Pate ted AugQZG, 1930 r -LIND'SA Y, O

r 'rono' v'ro, ONTAIH v BROTHERS, F 'ronomo, C ADA v INKLAGITATOlt FOR rnmrmogrrmssns f Application filed March s,

' My invention relates to aninkagitator for" printing pressesflas 'describedin this specification and illustrated by the accompanying drawings and'being the most acceptable form of my invention. v

Anobjectof my invention is to build an agitatorwhereinthetravel. or stroke of the agitating finger ,is adjustable and 1 can be t made to travel within any *portionbf the m'fountain; another object is to 'so designs the device that one or more fingers can be used; a another object isto provide very simple and efiieient driving means; and generally, to improve on existing ink agitators. A 15 In the drawingszj A y Figure 1 isa fragmentary front View of an agitator constructed in accordance "with 'my' invention; ,1 A v Figure 2 i's'a side elev ation of the; finger Figure 3 is a front elevationof the finger carriage frame; i- A Figure' l is a view in se clutch lockingplunger; g A v I Figure 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of atypical printing press showing the meth 0d of supporting the rackjfrom" andin 'front" ofjthe ink fountain; f

' 'F'gure 6'isla fragmentary side elevation" showing methodof actuatingthe drive shaft from the printing bedfdrive; 1-, -Ffgure'i 's a perspeetive view of thie'Lbrack-f et'mounting'oneend'of thedrivesha'ft'; I flFigure 8' is side elevation ithe braoketf i h h i fihedi 've S a t b ing i, i "Figure? is a frontele'vation'ofoneof the stationary bevel gears; j, a.

gure "IO-is a fragmentary top plan view;

vshov'ving method of driving the-drive shaft rom the P in i -b d i F g 1' QW l it d Qi ormore agitating fingers. 'r,

- i Likenumera ls sponding parts in the various'ffiguresj;

i i tw a of reference indicate tom; 7

Referring to A the drawings, designates the ink fountainagnd 1.13 he. fountain roller of a "typical iirint in' press shofwn "parts; only n g a d y e. liumerel z- Q;

J T nk. g t b g. ng l.3,f0. onv ticn-vi. 'al design, is hinged to a bracket 14 's'eoured' ward portio 1929. Serial in. 344,315. a

to the tim 24 ofarcarrier 15; the rrier is formed to slide'on a rack 16 positionedad-l 'jaeentgthe,fountainiand in parallelarrange-f l ment with the fountain and roller, and seured 'to-the press (see Figure 5) as with brackets lv7. As willbe'see p A n the rackis disposedso that itslteethlfacedownwardlyb w In the Carrier is, journalled a'transverse shaft 1-9, on which are fixed a gearor Pinion v 1,8'meshing with the rackand a Worm'gear 2 0. As the worm gear 20 is fixed on the shaft and thegear 18,;also fixed on the same shaft,

meshes with the'rack," it follows that the carrier can be shifted or moved 'on the rack n, opposite "directions acco A shaft 22 is journalled in the brackets "adjacent the rack and in parallel arrange- 'ment' therewith. Turning withthis, shaft 22 I v but free to slide or move axially thereupon; p

is a worm 21: the function offwhichis' to ;ro-

. tate the: worm gear 20 from the rotation of the shaft 22, so that the carrier can be moved 1' v back andforthon ,therack according tofthe 1 direction of rotationof the shaft, The worm" A 21 is kept in meshing engagementwith the i 1 1. v I wormgear20lbyprovidingangopen space 23:

' (see Figure 3) in the frame 2 4; of the'carrier;

so that the Worm travels with .;the'; carrier ,wliile always remaining i mesh? withjthefso Q gear? 20-- Aa il r 10 ar 'Q ,5 is r preferably provided as shown iri w g u e.

jOn'eend of theshaft 22projectsbeyond one .ofthe bearings'17 andis supported: from the 1 I rack as with. hangers '26,. Free toturn on thej g A shaft 22 aregtwo bevel gears2 7 and 27A], A formediwith clutch teeth 333A; and vextensions 0r sleeves 3813, these 'gearsbeing. disposed on the shaft between the hangers 26; andWith their clutch teeth facing as shown (seeFig-v 9 ure 1); on the sleeves 33Bgof the bevel gears isjournalled abracket 31 which extends rear-4 I wardly to provide a'b'earin'g'for one end of the drive shaft :30 and is formed at the for n toi "receive spring actuated plungers 295: I A As the bracket I fixed relation with respe'ot to the hangers 26,,

I'provide'remova'ble collars33"on'the sleeves V o; CANADA, 'Assmnoiafro JtIAN'lTOfi 1 W 5 r ng b0 directionffib of rotation of the worm g H 31 must, I be s Ql edj in fa actuated outwardly and the clutch member to leave the gear and be thrown into mesh with the other gear. For instance referring to Figure 1 wherein the clutch is shown as engaging with the gear 27A, the p'lungers releasably lock and retain the clutch in that position until the plungers are forced outwardly to allow the clutch to leave the gear 27A and mesh with the other gear 27.

Fixed on the drive shaft is a bevel gear 29A meshing with both of the gears 27 and 27A and rotating both ofthese gears torgether but in opposite directions lows therefore that the direction of rotation of the shaft 22 changes as the clutch member disentgxages from. one gear and engages with the 0' er.

To shift the clutch member, and more par ticularly to shift the shaft 22 axially, 1 pro- Vide two collars 47adjustably secured on the shaft, and springs 49, and loose collars 50. U on the engagement of the carrier with one the collars 5.0, the corresponding spring 49 begins to be compressed, and when enough resiliency is storedin the spring to force the plungers 29 outwardly, the, shaft shifts Imti the clutch member engages with the bevel gear toward which it is shifted. The length of travel of the agitating finger is increased or decreased by spacing the collars 47'farther or nearer apart, respectively. It foliows also that the agitating finger can be made to travel within any portion of the fountain, the portion travelled corresponding to the distance between and location of the collars 47.

Where more than one finger is to be used, I provide an extension member 48 removably secured to the bracket 14 as with suitable screws 49A, the extension being provided with a shoe 49C sliding on the rack, the en tension is provided with a plurality of holes or slots 4913 for renlovabl-y and adjustably mounting the bracket 14A having the finger 13A; as many brackets 14A maybe used as there arerholes in the extension. Similarly, a second extension 48A may beused where requ red,

' The drive shaft 30 may be driven from the printing bed drive 37 in the following nanner:

,A gpar 38 is fixed on ashaft 39 journalled in a caring 39A secured to the press and It folmeshing with the drive 37 on the shaft 39 is fixed a spiral gear 40 positioned to be en gaged by a co-acting spiral gear lOA fixed on the shaft- 30 which has the universal joint 41 to make same flexible; the spiral. 40 is engaged by the spiral 40A and disengaged therefrom by pnoviding a bearing .42 piw1oted in a bearing 43having a plunger JA: frictionheld in a hole 45 in the bracket 89A.

a I. alaim s;

1, In an ink agitator for printing presses, a rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, a finger carrier slidably mounted on said rack and having a gearmeshing with said rack, a shaft journalled adjacent said rack in parallel arrangement therewith and; operating to rotate in alternate directionsfsuccessively and means for actuating said gear from the rotation of said shaft.

2. In an ink agitator for printing presses, a. rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, a finger carrier slidably mounted on said rack and having a gear meshing with said rack, a shaft journa-lled adjacent said rack in parallel arrangcmenttherewith and operating to rotate in alternate directions successively, means actuating said gear from the rotation of said shaft, and means for reversing the rotation of said shaft at determinable lineal travel intervals of said carrier.

3. In an'ink agitator for printing presses, a rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewit'h,a finger can rier slidably mounted on said rack and having a gear meshing with said rack, a shaft journalled adjacent said rack, in parallel arrangement therewith and operating to rotate in alternate directions successively, means for actnatingsaid gear from the rotation of said shaft, and carrier-operated means for reversing the rotation of said shaft at determinable lineal travel intervals of said carrier.

4. In an ink agitator for printing presses, a rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, a finger carrier slidably mounted on said rack a gear journalled in saidzc'arrier and meshing with said rack, a shaft journalled adjacent said rack in parallel arrangementtherewith and movable axially between determined limits, means operating to drive said shaft in ,opposite directionsalternately upon the axial shifting thereof, means driving said gear from the rotation of said shaft, and resilient means adjustable on said shaft co-acting with said carrier in shifting said shaft axially at determinable lineal travel intervals of said carrier.

5 In an ink agitator for printingpresses, a rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, a finger carrier slidably mountedonsaidrack and having 'i' iii all carriage. y p a 8. Inan ink agitator for printing presses, I rackmounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, a finger.

a gear meshing with said rack, a-shaft joura rack mounted adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewith, afinger car rier slidably mountedon said rack and having a gear meshing with said rack, arshaft journalled adjacent said rack and movable axially to a limited extent, means for actuating said gear from the rotation of said shaft, a pair of continuously-driven gears rotating in oppositefdirections on said shaft and having clutch teeth, a clutch member fixedon said shaft between said last-men tioned gears and spring-held in clutch with either of said gears, and means adjustable on said shaft co actingwith said carrier in shifting said shaft axially in alternate directions successively at determinable lineal travel intervals of said carriage.

7. In an inkagitator for printing presses, a rack mounted'adjacent the ink fountain in parallel arrangement therewitlna finger carrier slidably mounted'on said rack andhaving a gear meshingwith said rack, ashaft 'journalled adjacent said'rack and movable axially to a limited extent, means for actuating sa1d gear from the rotatlon of said shaft, a pair of continuously-driven gears rotating inopposite directions on said shaft and having clutch teeth, a clutch member fixed on i said shaft between said last-mentioned gears, a spring-operated plunger co-acti'ng with said clutch member in'releasably lockingsame inclutch with either of said last-mentioned, gears, and means adjustable on saidshaft coacting with said carrier in shifting said shaft axially in alternate directions successively'at,

determinable linealYtravelintervals of said carrier slidably mounted on said rack, a transverse shaft journalled in saidcarrier, a gear fixed on said shaft meshing with said rack, a a worm gear fixed on said shaft, a shaft jour- I nalled adj acentsaid rack in parallel'arrange,

me'nt therewith and operating to rotatein alternate directions successively, anda worm free' tomove axially on, said last-mentioned L shaft with said carriage meshing with said worm gear and turning with said shaft.

9. In an ink agitatoryfor,printingpresses, I V a rack mounted adjacent the "ink fountain in axially. y 1 4 10; In an inkagitator for printing presses, 1 a carrier having an agitating fingermounted thereon and moving back and forth adjacent of February, r a

parallel arrangement therewith, a finger carrier slidably mounted on said rack, a transverse shaft ournalled 1n sa1d carrier, a gear fixed on said shaft and meshing with said rack, a Worm gear fixed onsaid shaft, a shaft journalled adjacent said rack in parallel arra'ngement therewith and movable axially to v a limited extent, a worm free to move axially on said lastmentioned shaftwith said carrier meshing with said worm gear and turning said shaft, a pair of continuously-driven bevel gears rotating on said last-mentioned shaft in oppositedirections and havingclutch teeth,'a clutch member fixed on said last-mentioned shaft between said bevel gears and spring-held in clutch with either of said bevel gears, andresilient means adjustably secured on said last-mentionedshaft co-acting with said carrierfin the ink fountain, and means extending from said carrier adapted for receiving an addi 't onal finger.

a finger carrier mounted to move back-and forth adjacent theink fountain and adapted to removably receive additional finger-carry;

ing means, and means for actuating saidcarrier. I

shifting said shaft 11. Inan inkagitator for printing presses,

12." In an ink agitator for printing presses,

a rack mounted adiacent the ink fountain in i parallel arrangement therewith, "a finger car-.

rier slidably mounted on said rack and move ing. back and forth, and .an extension from said carrier removablyfsecured thereto having 'a shoe slidably engaging'said rack and adapteclto receive finger, mounting means.

13. In an ink agitator for. printing presses, I I

a fingercarrier mountedto move adjacent the ink fountain, a shaft journalled adjacent the fountain, gearing actuating'said carrierwfrom the rotation. of said shaft, apflexible drive shaftoperatively connected with, said firstmentioned shaft, a bearing mounted to be releasably locked in a raised and lowered positions alternatively and jou'rnallingone .endof said drive shaft,'and gearing between said drive shaft and the printing bed drive operatively connectingsaid drive shaft to a saidfbed drive when said bearing is in its, lowered posltion and d1sconnect1ngisa1d drive .shaftfrom said bed drive when said bearing is in its raised position. 7

' vSigned at the city of'To'ronto, this 2nd day M 

